It is very important to prevent train drivers from falling into drowsiness during train operation. Most of drivers have tried various devices to keep up arousal level such as openig the window, standing up, loud speaking during train operation, but they say that nothing was effective. We have considered that we need to study the problem systematically in seeking for any effective method. We already have established the evaluation method for determination of arousal level synthesizing skin potential level and blinking rate, and compared the effects of gum chewing, listening to music, light physical exercise, etc.
This time, we take up the gum chewing as one of the effective devices and prepare a gum with components having both arousal effect and special flavor. To confirm its arousal effect, we compare the effect of this special gum with the gumbase and the marketed gum (BB-gum). A total of 10 subjects, five males and five females, are examined. Three subjects a day are submitted to 30 minutes of gum chewing for evaluation of their arousal levels.
Results indicate that the arousal effect of the special gum remains at the highest level for 30 minutes, but the gumbase drops immediately to the lowest level, and that of the BB-gum yields the same effect as the gumbase in 18 minutes of chewing.
It has been well known that the arousal effect of gum comes from the movement stimulus of chewing muscles, but it can be said from the results of experiment that components having arousal effect and special flavor in the special gum are more effective in maintaining the arousal level than the movement stimulus of chewing muscles.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of aging on masticatory function. This study was carried out in Nanchang city, Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China. Diagnosis of the masticatory function were conducted with the score of masticatory function counted with the subject's questionnaire. We selected 206 subjects who had 28 functional teeth and didn't have decayed teeth. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed with the subjects. The criterion variable was the score of masticatory function and explanatory variables were 9 variables including age and periodontitis, in this analysis. Three explanatory variables showed minus significant standardized partial regression coefficients. These were toothache at mealtimes, disorder of temporomandibular joints and age.

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Examination was made of the effects of gum hardness on cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen uptake (VO₂), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure during gum-chewing. Ten healthy male and female volunteers chewed 6 g of each of five gums differing in hardness (I, soft gum 6.4×10³ poise ; II, regular gum 2.0×10⁴ poise ; III, semi-hard gum 5.7×10⁴ poise ; N, hard gum 7.7×10⁴ poise ; V, super hard gum 1.4×10⁵ poise) for ten minutes chewing 60 times per minute. Right common carotid blood flow volume (rCCBFV) for 30 to 60 second interval, blood pressure for 2 min interval and continuous measurements of right tympanic membrane temperature (rTty), right skin temperature on muscle of mastication (rTskin), VO₂ and HR were measured during rest for 10 min, chewing and recovery.
The following results were obtained:
1) rCCBFV increased significantly from 6 to 15% the resting level onset of chewing and continued during gum-chewing. Increased rCCBFV returned quickly to resting level on cessation of mastication. rCCBFV increased most during the mastication of semi-(III) and hard gum (IV), and was least when chewing soft (I), regular (II) and super-hard gum (V). The response of rCCBFV to gum-chewing depended on change of common carotid blood velocity (r=0.629, p<0.001).
2) Changes in rTty and rTskin depended on gum hardness. Significant temporary decrease in rTty onset of chewing was observed for soft (I), regular (II) and semihard gum (III), but not for hard (N) and super-hard gum (V). Gradual increase in rTty was noted starting at 5 min after the onset of mastication for all gums examined. Peak levels of rTty could be seen at about 5 min after cessations of mastication. Magnitude of increase in rTty after gum-chewing depended on gum hardness. The hardest gum (V) coused the greatest increase in rTty. rTskin increased significantly at the onset of mastication, and peaked immediately following cessation of gum-chewing.
3) The response of VO₂, HR and systolic and diastolic blood pressure during gumchewing depended on gum hardness. VO₂ quickly decreased to less than the resting level immediately after cessation of gum-chewing. Slight increase in HR and blood pressure persisted throughout the recovery period.
The present results suggest that gum-chewing increases cerebral blood flow due to change in rCCBFV and rTty, which is indication of change in internal carotid arterial blood flow. Moderate hardness of food may possibly lead to greater increase in CBF during mastication than soft and/or very hard food.

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The difficulty in investigating masticatory movement is profound as seen in the fact that odontological research over approximately half a century has failed to provide definitive results. In order to investigate the masticatory function of the temporomandibular joint and the developmental mechanics of neuromuscular hypertonia of the masticatory muscles, a trace of the mandible body was made on a transparent plastic sheet from the right lateral view of the head. This method of observation provided a variety of information. Taking into consideration phenomena observed in clinical dentistry, “the masticatory function of the temporomandibular joint” and “the developmental mechanics of hypertonia of the masticatory muscles” were further observed.

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